Wind machine with aerodynamic elements to concentrate and accelerate an aeolian flow entering from outside

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a wind machine with aerodynamic elements to concentrate and accelerate an Aeolian flow entering from outside, said machine being characterized in that it is provided with a housing ( 1 ), with an air intake, a first section ( 3 ) converging up to an element ( 5 ) having a substantially spherical or cylindrical section, a second and a third section ( 6 A,  6 B), downward said first converging section ( 3 ), each one licking said element ( 5 ) having a substantially spherical or cylindrical section substantially up to its median line, e first and a second auxiliary air intake ( 8 ), in correspondence of said median line of said element ( 5 ) having a substantially spherical or cylindrical section, said element ( 5 ) having a substantially linear portion ( 9 ), downward said first and second air intake ( 8 ), a fourth and a fifth section ( 10 A,  10 B).

The present invention relates to a wind machine with aerodynamic elements to concentrate and accelerate an Aeolian flow entering from outside.

As it is well known, wind power plays an always more relevant role among renewable energies that can be exploited.

At present, technology is almost exclusively addressed to direct exploitation of speed of flows within an Aeolian flied of the zone where the wing machine is placed.

Being power that can be collected within “Aeolian field” obtained from Betz formula

E=½

Av ³(β×t),

wherein,

is air density given as Kg/m³, an area wiped by passing rotor blades given in m² of wind flow, v is velocity of flow given in m/sec, β is Betz coefficient (β that can be really obtained is =0.4), and t is time.

From the above formula, it is well evident that higher are the parameters A, v and t, and higher is collected power.

Due to technological reasons, it is aimed keeping v factor low, within a range of 9-15 m/sec, and since the use is direct, said velocity are present only in mountain sites, throats and in open sea.

V parameter acts on parameter A; recently, rotors have been realised with more than 120 m of diameter, thus obliging realising Wind machines with total dimensions of more than 100 m height, and Aeolian apparatus provided at a height of more than 50 m from ground, with unavoidable difficulties for realising, assembling and maintaining at such big height, high costs for realising roads and for distributing energy produced, besides requiring necessary investments. Furthermore, a remarkable environmental impact is caused.

Parameter t is only a function of natural factors.

From the above, it is understood that known solutions are characterised by some disadvantages:

-   -   nominal Aeolian field used for Wind machines having acceptable         dimensions is included with the range 10 m/sec-13 m/sec.         Exceptionally, for Wind machines having a large front dimension,         it can be lower up to about 8 m/sec, worsening cost-advantages         balance. For small Wind machines, nominal positive Aeolian field         is included within the range between 12 and 15 m/sec. All the         above Aeolian fields are located in inconvenient zones (mountain         ridges or hill zones/plain zones only in Northern areas).     -   duration of above wind intensity is limited to a fraction of the         total of hours available within a year (1 year=8760 hours). Said         fraction depends on geographical position (in Italy for example         only on ridges of few mountain zones from Apennines to south,         duration is about ⅛ of total hours/year), thus only for 1070         hours per year.     -   realisation of known Wind machines is very expensive, both due         to rotor dimensions, which are at the higher value. To increase         parameter A, rotor are presently realised with a diameter larger         than 100 m (a=area−100=7850 m²).     -   rotor has its rotation axis at the end of a tower that, in case         rotor has a diameter of 100 m, height of insertion of rotor         rotation axis is at least 70 m, thus total dimension being at         least 120 m from ground level. Resisting structure must be         calculated to bear wind stresses, rotor thrust, and earthquakes.

Moreover, visual impact, danger for maintenance and repair (with masses of 15/20 tons of nacelle-rotor group containing rotor axis, electric generator assembly, sensor assembly for orienteering mechanism making rotor rotating about tower, ecc.

The above, without ignoring other disadvantages, such as difficulty of conveying energy generated to main supply, necessity of realising roads (to access large Wind machines), and foundations necessary for tower.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention is that of realising a wind machine permitting using Aeolian fields with low wind speed (about 5 m/sec), i.e. Aeolian fields that can be found in many zones all over the world, and that are characterised by a duration of the wind much longer (from 4 to 5 times) than above mentioned Aeolian fields, with a total number of hours per year of about 5400 hour per year.

Another object of the present invention, is that of realising a wind machine having reduced dimensions (about 75% less than traditional wind machines), thus reducing environmental impact, risks for birds, risk deriving from earthquakes, maintenance and repair risks sine the electric flow generator assembly and all the electronics are at the ground level.

Still another object of the present invention is that of providing a wind machine that can be used in many different fields, such as fields wherein said technology has never been used, e.g. automotive, nautical, or road and highway fields.

These and other results are obtained, according to the present invention, by a wind machine provided with a housing, having reduced dimensions in function of the results to be obtained, about and within which ducts, converging and diverging wing profiles, ecc. are contained, as well as rotor or other wind device suitable to collect natural or, at the beginning, forced wind power, exploiting different elementary motions of fluid dynamic and not only rectilinear motion, as in the known solutions.

Housing of the solution according to the present invention not only is a simple container, but rather a complex interaction system, wherein air flow act, which are differentiated into vector and scalar values, determining results in which velocity field and earth gravity field values intervene. Substantially, it can be said that housing system as described in the above defines possibility of collecting kinematic energy ½Iv³A, as well as “earth gravity field” energy, using the well known formula:

$V = \sqrt{\frac{2\Delta \; p}{l}}$

Wherein, v is velocity of flow induced by pressure difference Δp=P_(atm)−P_(static), according to inducing flow direction, is physical vehicle by which earth gravity energy acting on air molecules (all about the earth) is present. To give an intuitive connection, it can be imagined operation of the energetic transformation, making a comparison with transformation occurring into hydroelectric power plants: water collection basin at level h and an Δh of “gravity field” potential, wherein v is flow velocity of forced ducts and physical vehicle to exploit gravity energy.

It is therefore a specific object of the present invention a wind machine with aerodynamic elements to concentrate and accelerate an Aeolian flow entering from outside, said machine being characterized in that it is provided with a housing, with an air intake, a first section converging up to an element having a substantially spherical or cylindrical section, a second and a third section, downward said first converging section, each one licking said element having a substantially spherical or cylindrical section substantially up to its median line, e first and a second auxiliary air intake, in correspondence of said median line of said element having a substantially spherical or cylindrical section, said element having a substantially linear portion, downward said first and second air intake, a fourth and a fifth section, each one substantially reproducing profile of said second and third sections, a third auxiliary air intake being provided in correspondence of said fourth and a fifth sections; and a diverging channel, at the outlet of which a device exploiting said Aeolian flow is provided.

Preferably, according to the invention, said Aeolian flow entering through said main air intake is a natural flow, the wind machine being provided with means for orienteering with respect to the Aeolian flow direction, or an artificial source.

Furthermore, according to the invention, sequence of sections and of auxiliary air intakes between said converging section and said diverging section can be provided, in series, more than once.

Always according to the invention, said device exploiting the Aeolian flow can be a device provided with blades, or another kind of wind device with a horizontal or vertical axis.

Still according to the invention, said machine provides circular wings, in its front section, said wings having a suitable wing profile, with a positive or negative leading angle, causing a perturbation of “wind field”, curving the flow lines.

Furthermore, according to the invention, to reduce friction loss between molecules of air flow flowing within circular channels, it is possible reducing, or eliminating, wing after the first wing, in order to reduce contact area and limit layer causing friction and, exploiting natural curvature of “Aeolian field” flow lines of perturbation elements, behaviour of flow lines, i.e. their centre concentration would be similar to a fixed wall, without resistance losses.

Present invention will be described in the following for illustrative, but not limitative, purposes, with particular reference to its preferred embodiments, making particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a section view of a wind machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a particular of housing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically shows the flow of a fluid about a sphere; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 show test diagrams for solution of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Making first reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the enclosed drawings, it is schematically shown a housing, generically indicated by reference number 1, of a wind machine according to the invention.

Said housing 1 has an air intake 2, a first section 3 converging until section 4.

In correspondence of said section 4, flow is conveyed about a sphere-section (or cylindrical-section) element 5 (channel 6), up to section 7, where an auxiliary air intake 8 is provided.

After said section 7, element 5 has a linear running 9, before reproducing in channel 10 the same situation of channel 6.

In correspondence of said channel 10, a further auxiliary air intake is provided, up to diverging channel 12, ending in correspondence of section 13, where Aeolian flow user (not shown) is provided.

Preliminarily, it must be pointed out that flow in correspondence of air intake 2 can be a natural flow, in this case wind machine according to the invention being suitably oriented with respect to the source, or an artificial source (not shown).

A specific description and scientific explanation will be given in the following with respect to different arrangements of the wind machine according to the invention, underlining particular advantages obtained. Basic principle of the solution according to the invention is valid for each one of the different arrangements, i.e. trying collecting highest amount of air that can be obtained from Aeolian field, at the velocity of the outer field, thus reducing pressure drop.

As already said, in case a natural flow is provided, air intake 2 is oriented perpendicular to the Aeolian field flow direction, due to the action of wind thrust on vertical rudder and on frame (not shown, since they are not subject matter of the present invention).

Flow enter within air intake 2 with a mass flow

A×V∞×

=Kg/sec

Wherein A is intake area (m²), V∞ is field velocity,

is air local density.

Air mass is compressed within converging section 3, according to Bernoulli formula A₁/A₂=R₁

Wherein A₁ is efficient inlet area from converging section 3, A₂ is area of trailing edge area, R₁ is converging section 3 ratio.

In case pressure drop due to air friction along walls or to shape aerodynamic losses are not present, velocity at the trailing edge would be

V∞×R ₁ =V ₁.

Thus, in correspondence of section 4, it would be V₁>V∞.

The law of a fluid flow along a sphere or along a cylinder applies along channel 6, so that velocity in correspondence of section 7 is, always not considering pressure drop, 3/2v₁ for sphere and 2v₁ for cylinder.

As already said, in correspondence of section 7, an auxiliary air intake 8 is provided.

On the basis of Bernoulli law, a velocity V generates a negative pressure in flow motion,

Δp=½

V ².

Thus, communicating (P_(atm)) with flow at V₁, in correspondence of rectilinear section 9, a flow air is obtained

As×V ₁ =Ψs

wherein As is area of channel communicating with auxiliary air intake, V₁ is velocity of inducing flow, Ψs is deriving flow maintained until when Δp with respect to atmosphere exists.

It must be put into evidence that housing 1 of wind machine according to the invention can be comprised of a series of structure as described in the above.

It is observed that total flow air, at the end of the trailing edge of section 10 (or of series of converging sections) will have velocity v₁, and will enter within diffuser throat 12 with a velocity V₁×R₂, wherein R₂ is ratio of area A₂/A_(f)=R₂.

Taking into consideration pressure drop along ducts, in case at the end of the possible converging ducts, total of flows will be Ψ₁+Ψ₂ . . . Ψ_(n)=Ψ_(total), and velocity within the throat will be: V_(R)=Ψ_(r)/A_(f), wherein V_(R) is throat velocity acting on rotor, A_(r) is diffuser throat area.

Always bearing in mind Betz equation, concerning power that can be obtained from a flow current, having velocity V, passing through an area A_(R) of rotor (P=β×½

AV³), it is observed that two basic variable parameters are cubic current velocity, and rotor area.

Increasing velocity value from 5 m/sec to 20 m/sec, i.e. four times, parameter V varies from 125 to 8000.

Sole inconvenient of the solution according to the invention (compensated by advantages obtained) is that collection of Aeolian field is made within a housing, wherein air contacts walls and is delayed by friction with the same, due to “limit layer”.

Wind machine according to the invention can also be realized by a field air intake having a not-circular section, or by a device multiplying inlet velocity.

In first case (not-circular field air intake), dynamic intake surface of wing flow is geometrically different with respect to the circular one (e.g. it can have a square, rectangular, octagonal, ecc. cross-section).

In the present case, since wind machine provides element 7, and its accelerating effect, it is worthwhile observing operation of the assembly, when it is modified flow inlet in portion of the housing aimed to contain Aeolian user transforming flow kinetic energy into mechanical energy.

In case a device having a vertical axis is used, it can be provided a device known as Panemone in spite of rotor.

It is essentially comprised of a disc rotating about an axis passing through its center. Wing portions with a suitable profile are fixed to the disc, having a longitudinal extension parallel to the rotation axis, the leading edge of which is hit by flow.

Operative principle of the solution according to the present invention will be shortly summarized in the following.

As it is well known, all possible motion of a wind flow can be decomposed into four elementary motions: rectilinear, vortex, well and doublet motion.

Each one of said motions can be represented by a mathematical equation (Laplace equation), which is a linear differential equation valid for not rotating elementary motions and incompressible fluid (a fluid is deemed incompressible up to a filed velocity lower than Mach 0.2-0.3).

Juxtaposition of two or more elementary motions represents all the possible motions.

Thus, motion obtained is described by equation solving elementary motion equation system, and said equation is a Laplace equation, obtained linearly adding coordinate of elementary motion equations.

Usually, coordinate expressing elementary motion equations are Cartesian coordinate or cylindrical coordinate, or spherical coordinate.

The solution suggested according to the present invention is described in the above, and thus an apparatus taking a set dynamic flow from Aeolian field, having a set flow rate (i.e. A×V∞), having one or more intake faced toward wind flow direction, processing flow(s) within housing, and using effects of elementary well and vortex motions, determines inlet from Aeolian field opening, even different with respect to dynamic inlet, of air current within the housing, generated by pressure difference (atmospheric pressure of outer field) and depression generated within a current provided with velocity V.

In fact, according to Bernoulli equation, total pressure within a fluid current is P=P₁+½

v² wherein P₁ is residual static pressure and ½

v² is current flow dynamic pressure.

For flows arriving from a natural Aeolian field, it can be said that P_(atm)=atmospheric pressure.

Thus: Δp=P_(at)−P₁=½

v², wherein Δp is pressure drop acting within a conduct communicating atmosphere with a flow having velocity v.

If conduct from atmosphere to flow is within the flow, an outflow (source) occurs with velocity V=√2Δp/

that will be maintained until when pressure drop will exist. Δp=V (minus the viscosity losses).

If conduct is outside the flow, an opposite flow (well) will be obtained.

Said flows added to flows coming from dynamic intakes, sum up each other within a volume obtained in housing and indicated as “mixing chamber”, wherein sum up of motions occurs, as demonstrated by Laplace equations.

Now, attention is drawn on third elementary motion, vortex, as described in International Patent Application PCT/IT2009/000348, having as title, “Improved Aeolian silos”, of the same inventor of the present application.

Vortex motion occurs (according to the specification of the above application) within a suitable volume of housing wherein dynamic flow is sent to a circular chamber, wherein a vortex filament is realised which, on the basis of the Biot-Savart law, determines induction of a fluid flow perpendicular to the vortex circulation.

In this case too induced flows and dynamic flows are summed up within mixing chamber before reaching rotor.

Additional effect according to the present invention is that obtained alone (or in addition to those described) by deformation of velocity potential field (and pressure) that is obtained by putting a body having every shape within the bed of a rectilinear flow with velocity V.

Some theoretical considerations must be done on an accelerating “diverging-converging-diverging” conduct having virtual, rather than physical, walls in order to reduce pressure losses due to friction and shape coefficient. Said solution is particularly suitable for low velocity airborne flows.

Efficiency of a “flow intake-converging-static auxiliary intakes-diverging” geometry, in the theoretical situation of a hypothetical incompressible and not viscous fluid, is a direct function of Bernoulli theorem, since fluid inlet velocity to the dynamic intake (i.e. perpendicular to the inlet of converging throat according to convergence ratio.

Here, a static intake from atmosphere makes an supplemental flow entering in function of pressure difference between atmospheric pressure and static pressure of throat flow according to the Bernoulli formula: P_(atm)=P₁s+½

V₁ ², i.e. Ps=P_(atm)−½

−V₁ ², being V₁=V∞×R, wherein R is convergence ratio between area of dynamic intake and throat area. Velocity of supplemental flow is:

V ₁=√2Δp/

Δp=½

V ₁ ²

thus

V ₁=√2(½

V ₁ ²)/

=√V ₁ ² V ₁ =Vs

The above is valid if inflow of supplemental flow does not cause an increase of flow pressure.

It is evident that a repeated geometry would cause a remarkable increase of final flow rate. Having a final device for transforming energy (according to Bernoulli) and always considering as null losses, it would be obtained a Vn=P₁+P₂+Pn/final area much higher than V∞, with a flow rate n/r times larger than that of the initial air intake.

Under the energy balance point of view, it would be obtained that final sum of inlet energy within flow from various intakes is:

A _(d)×½V ³ +

A ₁×½V ³ +

A _(n)×½V ³=Total

This is not valid in real world, since friction along walls and losses due to convergence within converging conducts determines a reduction of air velocity at the throat outlet for each diffuser, so that velocity of auxiliary flows, being a function of local pressure difference, remarkably lowers.

Notwithstanding the above, a set increase of flow rate and final velocity is obtained. From the above considerations, it is reasonable thinking to a system permitting fully exploiting possibilities offered by the above scheme, trying to reduce at most losses within conduct.

It has been observed that, if every body is placed within an Aeolian filed, e.g. a rectilinear stationary field having a velocity V, a field deformation will occur around said body, so that flow lines, deform their trajectory from rectilinear into curvilinear, going around the body.

Energy making flow lines curving is the one arriving to the fluid by shock of flow within stagnation zone on which flow lines hit.

Energy delivered is conferred to the surrounding flows, thus increasing their energetic level, thus pressure (on the basis of Bernoulli, if velocity is annulled, pressure increases), and a light negligible temperature increase occurs.

If local pressure increases, Δp increases, and thus velocity with which air surrounding body flows beyond the body.

Stagnation point of the perturbation body thus behaves as a source, the motion of which overlaps with rectilinear motion of the arriving flow.

Resulting motion can be thus described as a juxtaposition of equation of two elementary motions: rectilinear and source motions.

Describing the two motions by spherical coordinates, using linear differential equations (Laplace equation), it is obtained that the resulting equation is another linear differential equation.

The above has been demonstrated, described and calculated by Rankine in his famous study of oval shape (Rankine Oval), comprised of a plurality of rectilinear, source, well, flows, said two flows originating from an axis parallel to the rectilinear flow, having the same force.

Rankine demonstrates that total flow obtained from 3 motions determines a separate volume, contained within Aeolian field, without dispersion outside resulting flow, as if it is enclosed within a rigid housing. The above means that losses are really low and are a function of the velocity gradient among line flows, said gradient being limited for curvilinear trajectories, and thus, not existing limit layer with velocity equal to 0, losses can be ignored.

In the above, it has been described that air inlet in the described geometry can be considered as a flow obtained from a “rectilinear” motion juxtaposed to a “source” motion. To realize Rankine geometry, it is necessary creating a well flow.

Said flow is the opposite of the source flow, with flow lines entering within well.

Flow of the rectilinear field, in its central trajectory, enters within the set area throat of a diverging conduct.

Taking first into consideration a diverging conduct with a length I and rectilinear generatrix inclined of an angle α<7°, with a monotonic increase of area, lacking friction and losses, air volume entering within a second passes through cone, behaving as a piston, but in view of the increase of area for every “x” path, causes a space:

dv=(dr/r)² ×π·dx,

Said volume must be filled in by a “dv” adding to standard flow rate πR²×Vr entering within diffuser throat, and this is possible only by a passage velocity increase.

Velocity increase within throat is only possible with an increase of pressure difference Δp between inlet and throat sections.

Thus, intake of diffuser is well force, and juxtaposition of field rectilinear motion with well motion, closing Rankine oval.

Bearing in mind that Rankine oval behaves as if resulting flow between rectilinear field motion and source and well motions, is contained within a rigid housing, being negligible losses, said geometry behaves ad a virtual converging system.

The present invention has been described for illustrative, but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is understood that variations and/or modifications can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from its scope as defined in the enclosed claims. 

1. Wind machine with aerodynamic elements to concentrate and accelerate an Aeolian flow entering from outside, said machine being wherein it is provided with a housing, with an air intake, a first section converging up to an element having a substantially spherical or cylindrical section, a second and a third section, downward said first converging section, each one licking said element having a substantially spherical or cylindrical section substantially up to its median line, e first and a second auxiliary air intake, in correspondence of said median line of said element having a substantially spherical or cylindrical section, said element having a substantially linear portion, downward said first and second air intake, a fourth and a fifth section, each one substantially reproducing profile of said second and third sections, a third auxiliary air intake being provided in correspondence of said fourth and a fifth sections; and a diverging channel, at the outlet of which a device exploiting said Aeolian flow is provided.
 2. Wind machine with aerodynamic elements to concentrate and accelerate an Aeolian flow entering from outside according to claim 1, wherein said Aeolian flow entering through said main air intake is a natural flow, the wind machine being provided with means for orienteering with respect to the Aeolian flow direction.
 3. Wind machine with aerodynamic elements to concentrate and accelerate an Aeolian flow entering from outside according to claim 1, wherein said Aeolian flow entering through said main air intake is an artificial source.
 4. Wind machine with aerodynamic elements to concentrate and accelerate an Aeolian flow entering from outside according to claim 1, wherein the sequence of sections and of auxiliary air intakes between said converging section and said diverging section can be provided, in series, more than once.
 5. Wind machine with aerodynamic elements to concentrate and accelerate an Aeolian flow entering from outside according to claim 1, wherein the said device exploiting the Aeolian flow can be a device provided with blades, or another kind of wind device with a horizontal or vertical axis.
 6. Wind machine with aerodynamic elements to concentrate and accelerate an Aeolian flow entering from outside according to claim 1, wherein it provides circular wings, in its front section, said wings having a suitable wing profile, with a positive or negative leading angle, causing a perturbation of “wind field”, curving the flow lines.
 7. Wind machine with aerodynamic elements to concentrate and accelerate an Aeolian flow entering from outside according to claim 1, wherein, to reduce friction loss between molecules of air flow flowing within circular channels, it is possible reducing, or eliminating. Wing after the first wing, in order to reduce contact area and limit layer causing friction and, exploiting natural curvature of “Aeolian field” flow lines of perturbation elements, behaviour of flow lines, i.e. their centre concentration would be similar to a fixed wall, without resistance losses. 